Mail carrier device

ABSTRACT

A carrier device for concealing items to be enclosed within an envelope and shipped through the mails. The device is formed of a relatively hard material, which is sealed along its edges to form a pocket. The item to be concealed is placed in the pocket through a slot formed in one of the walls in the device and the item is retained in place by a flap located adjacent the slot wherein the item is inserted.

United States Patent [191 Hadick NOV. 20, 1973 MAIL CARRIER DEVICE [75]Inventor: George J. Hadick, Moraga, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Arvey Corporation, Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: Apr. 5, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 131,248

[52] US. Cl 229/92.8, 229/68 R, 229/85,

229/929 [51] Int. Cl B65d 85/54 [58] Field of Search 229/68 R, 76, 85,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,647,071 7/1953 Schade150/39 X 702,107 6/1902 Loomis 229/875 1,980,241 11/1934 Wilson....229/929 X 1,034,564 8/1912 Arnold 229/929 Primary ExaminerDonald F.Norton AttorneyDressler, Goldsmith, Clement & Gordon [57] ABSTRACT Acarrier device for concealing items to be enclosed within an envelopeand shipped through the mails. The device is formed of a relatively hardmaterial, which is sealed along its edges to form a pocket. The item tobe concealed is placed in the pocket through a slot formed in one of thewalls in the device and the item is retained in place by a flap locatedadjacent the slot wherein the item is inserted.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures MAIL CARRIER DEVICE This invention relatesto a mail carrier device capable of retaining valuables such as creditcards, coins, jewelry, and so forth, which will be retained andprotected while disguising its presence therein. The filled carrier isthen inserted into an envelope.

I-Ieretofore, when valuables, such as credit cards, coins, jewelry,precision electrical components, or the like, were shipped through themail, they were susceptible to being identified by one fingering theouter surfaces of the envelope. This situation presents a theft problem,since valuable items that are identifiable be come attractive items tobe stolen. However, even if theft is not a problem, such items, if notadequately protected, may cut through the envelope with the result thatthey may be lost during handling of the envelope during its travelthrough the post office department and by the mail carriers.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a mailcarrier device in which valuable items such as credit cards, coins,etc., can be retained while being protected and disguised from the viewof the casual observer. The device consists essentially of acardboard-coated material that is folded to form a. receptacle. Theentrance to the interior or pocket of the receptacle is provided by aslit that extends transversely along one sidewall of the receptacle.When the carrier device is used, the slit is opened up and the item tobe carried therein is dropped into the pocket of the receptacle formedby the sidewalls thereof. Formed in the same sidewall adjacent the slitis a flap, which is used to facilitate entry into the carrier. The flapalso serves as a latch to prevent the items from being shaken out of thereceptacle pocket. The device can take different forms, as will beobvious from a study of the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view showing a mail carrier device adapted toreceive an item and an envelope for receiving the carrier;

FIG. 2 shows the carrier device opened for removal of its contents;

FIG. 3 shows a rear view of a blank for a carrier prior to its beingformed; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate two other embodiments of the carrier device.

Referring first to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a fully formed mailcarrier device that is shown about to receive a credit card 1 l. Thecredit card and carrier are then inserted into envelope 12 for mailing.The positioning of the credit card within the carrier prevents itspresence from becoming known to a casual handler of the envelope. Thiseliminates it as a target for those who would steal the credit card ifits location in the envelope became apparent to one handling the same.This would also be true of other items capable of being concealed withinthe carrier.

The carrier 10 in the instant illustrated embodiment is shown as being asingle piece of cardboard folded into two halves at its midsection toform sidewalls 13, 14. The two halves are sealed together around itsperimeter, which thus forms a pocket 15 within which the item to becarried is located. To obtain entry into the pocket 15, one sidewall 13is provided with a transversely extending slot 16. Located immediatelyadjacent to and above the slot 16 is a flap member 18, which provides aneasy entry into the pocket 15 formed by the carrier sidewalls. Asclearly shown in FIG. 1, the hinged flap 18 is formed by spaced cuts 18aand 18b which extend from slot 16 to terminate in a fold line 18cwhereby said flap is adapted to extend upwardly from the plane ofsidewall 13. The flap 18 serves a dual function in that it acts toprevent items located in the carrier from beingshaken out of the pocketin the event the carrier is turned over and also provides easy accessinto pocket 15.

In order to provide ready access to the pocket 15 for removal of thecontents located therein, the sidewall 13 defines a substantiallytriangular flap portion 19, which is scored at lines 20 to permit theflap 19 to be torn out of the sidewall 13. FIG. 2 shows the flap l9severed from the sidewall 13, thus exposing the credit card 12 for readyremoval.

FIG. 3 illustrates a carrier device in the open position prior to itsbeing sealed to take the form illustrated in FIG. 1. The sidewall 13(the interior of which is shown in FIG. 3) is shown provided with linesof adhesive material indicated at 21, 22, 23. When the bottom flap 14 ismoved into sealing engagement with the flap 13, the carrier is formedproviding the pocket 15 therebetween. While adhesive is shown as beingprovided on the interior of sidewall 13, corresponding portions ofsidewall 14 could be provided with adhesive if desired.

FIG. 4 shows a modified form of a carrier device wherein the sidewall 13is provided with a pair of side flaps 24, 25 and a top flap 26. When thesidewall 14 is moved into sealing engagement with the sidewall 13, theflaps 24, 25 seal the two sidewalls together and the top flap 26 isfolded over sidewall 14 and and sealed thereto to complete the formationof the carrier device.

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4 in that it also employs a top flap 26, butit does not utilize side flaps. Instead, it is provided with side bandsof adhesive 21, 22, similar to FIG. 3, which are used to secure thesidewalls together.

Of course, it will be obvious that the invention can take other forms,all of which are intended to be encompassed within the following claims.For example, the carrier can be formed of varying sizes and shapes tomake identification of its contents difficult.

What is claimed is:

l. A carrier for bulk items designed to be inserted into an envelopecomprising a relatively stiff material having first and second sidewallsconstructed and arranged to form a pocket, said first sidewall having aslot therein and a latching flap hingedly formed in said first sidewall,a portion of said flap being contiguous to said slot, said flap isadapted to extend out of the plane of said first sidewall to serve as alatch to prevent items from being shaken out of said pocket and toprovide easy access into said pocket.

2. An article as set forth in claim 1 in which the carrier is formed ofcardboard that is folded at its midsection and sealed along itsperimeter to form a completely enclosed pocket.

3. A carrier as set forth in claim 6 in which said first sidewallcontains a sealing flap extending along one edge thereof, which flap isadapted to extend over said second sidewall to seal the sidewalltogether.

4. A carrier as set forth in claim 6 in which said first sidewallincludes sealing flap members extending along three sides thereof forsealing the two sidewalls together.

5. A carrier for bulk items designed to be inserted into an envelopecomprising a relatively stiff material ranged to form a pocket, saidfirst sidewall of said pocket defining a slot and a hinged flap cut insaid first sidewall contiguous to said slot whereby easy entrance to thepocket is attained and the flap serves as a latch to prevent items frombeing shaken out of saidpocket, said first sidewall having at least twoangularly disposed score lines that intersect said slot to permit easyopening of the carrier when it is hinged to remove the items locatedtherein.

1. A carrier for bulk items designed to be inserted into an envelopecomprising a relatively stiff material having first and second sidewallsconstructed and arranged to form a pocket, said first sidewall having aslot therein and a latching flap hingedly formed in said first sidewall,a portion of said flap being contiguous to said slot, said flap isadapted to extend out of the plane of said first sidewall to serve as alatch to prevent items from being shaken out of said pocket and toprovide easy access into said pocket.
 2. An article as set forth inclaim 1 in which the carrier is formed of cardboard that is folded atits midsection and sealed along its perimeter to form a completelyenclosed pocket.
 3. A carrier as set forth in claim 6 in which saidfirst sidewall contains a sealing flap extending along one edge thereof,which flap is adapted to extend over said second sidewall to seal thesidewall together.
 4. A carrier as set forth in claim 6 in which saidfirst sidewall includes sealing flap members extending along three sidesthereof for sealing the two sidewalls together.
 5. A carrier for bulkitems designed to be inserted into an envelope comprising a relativelystiff material having first and second sidewalls constructed andarranged to form a pocket, said first sidewall having a slot and spacedcuts extending from said slot to a fold line to form a latching flap,sAid flap is adapted to extend out of the plane of said first sidewallto serve as a latch to prevent items from being shaken out of saidpocket and to provide easy access into said pocket.
 6. A carrier forbulk items designed to be inserted into an envelope comprising arelatively stiff material having first and second sidewalls constructedand arranged to form a pocket, said first sidewall of said pocketdefining a slot and a hinged flap cut in said first sidewall contiguousto said slot whereby easy entrance to the pocket is attained and theflap serves as a latch to prevent items from being shaken out of saidpocket, said first sidewall having at least two angularly disposed scorelines that intersect said slot to permit easy opening of the carrierwhen it is hinged to remove the items located therein.